Method and apparatus optimizing a radio link

ABSTRACT

Optimizing a radio link is done by acquiring at least OSI layer one and two performance measurements, determining an optimum setting collection for at least OSI layer three to a top layer, then configuring at least the OSI layer three to the top layer based upon the optimum setting collection. The top layer is at least OSI layer four. The invention includes optimized radio links, methods of making optimized radio links, revenue generating making optimized radio links by providing means for optimizing the radio link.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application is a CONTINUATION of U.S. application Ser. No.11/745,718, filed May 8, 2007, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,953,021, whichis a CONTINUATION of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/371,237, filed Feb.19, 200, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,218,645. Said U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/371,237 claims benefit from and priority to U.S.Application No. 60/358,422, filed Feb. 19, 2002. The above-identifiedapplications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

The present application is also related to U.S. application Ser. No.11/738,869, filed Apr. 23, 2007 and U.S. application Ser. No.12/198,283, filed Aug. 26, 2008.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to optimization of a radio link in terms of atleast some of the following: power efficiency, bandwidth delivery,energy consumption, channel noise, and overall performance ofmulti-layer network communications through the radio link.

BACKGROUND ART

Mobile multimedia communication is desired by many, whether in the formof video telephone calls, video conferencing, mobile reception of webcasts of audio and/or video streams. However, there are severalbottlenecks need to be addressed before mobile multimedia communicationcan be achieved. Additionally, multimedia communication experiencessimilar bottlenecks in other radio links. Before discussing theinvention, it is useful to survey the prior art for a summary ofcontemporary approaches to solving these problems.

The first bottleneck concerns multimedia communication bandwidthrequirements. New packet based cellular network standards as well asnon-cellular standards are addressing this bottleneck. The packet basedcellular network standards include GSM/GPRS, WCDMA, CDMA2000, and HDR.The non-cellular standards include Bluetooth, IEEE 802-11a/b andHiperlan.

A second, significant bottleneck to mobile multimedia communication isenergy consumption. As radios built for mobile multimedia communicationare frequently powered primarily by battery, the energy consumed must beminimal. Energy consumption in such radio systems is predominantlycomposed of computation energy and communication energy. The computationenergy refers to the energy consumed in processing information to betransmitted and/or received. The communication energy refers to theenergy consumed in wirelessly transferring information. Both computationenergy and communication energy requirements can be very high.

Note that fixed station radios may also experience energy consumptionbottlenecks. These bottlenecks may also be due to battery limitations,but are more often due to energy limitations in amplifiers andcomputation energy consumption.

A third bottleneck to mobile multimedia communication is channel noise.As the number of mobile users increase in a neighborhood, theinterference between users will also increase, causing more channelnoise. While several methods exist for overcoming the effects of channelnoise, more bandwidth and energy are required to implement thesemethods. Such methods include Automatic-repeat-ReQuest (ARQ) schemes andchannel coding.

The conditions and requirements of wireless multimedia communicationvary. This fact can be used to overcome the bandwidth and energybottlenecks. Variations in channel conditions may be due to usermobility, changing terrain, and so on. For example, the Signal toInterference Ratio (SIR) for cellular phones varies by as much as 100dB, as a function of cellular phone's distance from the base station.

The Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Multimedia Data (QoMD)required during multimedia communication changes depending on thecurrent multimedia service. QoS is often measured in terms of latencyand/or Bit Error Rate (BER). By way of example, video telephony and webbrowsing have different QoS (latency) and QoMD (quality) requirements.

Mobile multimedia communication is usually discussed in terms of severalOSI communication layers.

-   -   OSI layer one is often known as the physical layer and acts to        physically transfer data through at least one physical medium.    -   OSI layer two is the data link layer, which transfers data        between the network layer (three) and the physical layer (one).        The data link layer manages the physical communication between        connecting systems. This layer includes two sublayers: a Media        Access Control (MAC) sublayer and the Logical Link Control (LLC)        sublayer. The MAC sublayer controls how a link in a network        gains access to data and permission to transfer that data across        the network. The LLC sublayer controls frame synchronization,        flow control and error checking    -   OSI layer three is the network layer, which provides switching        and routing capabilities, creating logical paths, often known as        virtual circuits, for transferring data between nodes of a        network. This layer provides routing, forwarding, as well as,        addressing, internetworking, error handling, congestion control        and packet sequencing functions.    -   OSI layer four is the transport layer, which provides        transparent transfer of data between end systems, ensuring        complete data transfer.    -   OSI layer five is the session layer, which establishes, manages,        and terminates connections between applications at various ends        of a network.    -   OSI layer six is the presentation layer, which provides        independence from different data representation, such as        encryption, by translating between the application layer and the        network layer.    -   OSI layer seven is the application layer, which supports        application and end user processes. Typical activities of this        level include user authentication, file transfers, e-mail, and        other network-based services, such as video conferencing and web        browsing.

Wireless data communication devices typically transfer data withoutknowing the type of data being transferred. In many cases, isolating thevarious communication functions at each protocol layer is useful. Newcommunications protocols and applications can be added without alteringthe lower layers of the protocol, such as radio and packet framing.However, this approach of isolating the functions of different layershas limited ability to optimize power consumption, bandwidth efficiencyor other constrained resources. What is needed are methods and deviceswith improved ability to optimize constrained resources, including atleast power consumption and bandwidth latency.

Several methods have been proposed for optimizing layers three and four.The optimization of a TCP/IP based wireless communication system hasbeen variously proposed using two basic approaches. The first approachhides the non-congestion related losses from the TCP sender. The secondapproach makes the sender aware of losses not due to congestion, whichcan be summarized as wireless hop and losses.

These two TCP/IP based wireless optimization methods have beenimplemented using three main algorithms. The first algorithm uses atransport layer end-to-end approach. The second algorithm uses asplitting of the connection between the wireless channel and thenetwork. The third algorithm uses a data link layer approach.

For the Transport Layer approach, the degraded performance of TCP overwireless links is mostly due to mistaking wireless losses forcongestion. There are numerous proposals for modifying the TCP protocol.

During handoffs in cellular systems, packets may be delayed or evenlost. R. Cáceres and L. Iftode, “Improving the performance of reliabletransport protocols in mobile computing environments,” IEEE Journal onSelected Areas in Communications, vol. 13, no. 5, June 1995 pp. 850-857makes the proposal that recovery from these losses should be initiatedright after handoff completion, without waiting for a timeout. TCP canachieve this by receiving appropriate signals from lower layers.

Alternatively, TCP can exploit mobility hints from lower layers toheuristically distinguish losses due to handoffs. For these losses, TCPcan avoid having the slow start threshold during recovery, thus skippingthe congestion avoidance phase.

K. Brown and S. Singh, “M-TCP: TCP for mobile celullar networks,”Computer Communications Review, vol. 27, no. 5, October 1997, pp. 19-43proposes that the wireless link endpoints choke TCP senders duringhandoffs, by transparently closing the receiver's advertised window. Thesender then freezes all pending timers and starts periodically probingthe receiver's window. However, there is a problem. By shrinking theadvertised window, M-TCP violates TCP guidelines.

For the Split Connection solutions, after handoffs, congestion avoidancehelps probe the capacity of the new link. With other wireless losses,retransmissions are sufficient for recovery.

However, end-to-end retransmissions are slow. A. Bakre and B. R.Badrinath, “Implementation and performance evaluation of Indirect-TCP,”IEEE Transactions on Computers, vol. 46, no. 3, March 1997, pp. 260-278,proposed splitting TCP connections using as pivot points, routersconnected to both wireless and wired links.

In the split connection scheme, end-to-end connections are decomposedinto separate TCP sessions for the wired and wireless parts of the path.A separate protocol, optimized for error recovery, may be substitutedover the wireless links.

There are some problems with the split connection approach. Splitschemes violate end-to-end TCP semantics, since acknowledgments mayreach the sender before data packets reach their destination. Topreserve TCP semantics, acknowledgments must be delayed, thus reducingthroughput. Pivot points face significant overhead, since packetsundergo TCP processing twice, and considerable per connection statememory must be maintained there.

R. Ludwig and R H. Katz, in “The Eifel algorithm: making TCP robustagainst spurious retransmissions,” Computer Communications Review, vol.30, no. 1, January 2000, pp. 30-36, proposed the Eifel scheme.

The Eifel scheme modifies TCP so as to avoid the spurious timeouts andfast retransmits due to handoffs or delayed data link layerretransmissions. Since these problems are due to TCP's inability todistinguish between acknowledgments for original packet transmissionsand retransmissions, Eifel adds TCP timestamps to outgoing packets.Timestamps are echoed in acknowledgments, thus allowing spurioustimeouts to be readily avoided, without changing TCP semantics.

However, end-to-end TCP recovery is not accelerated.

While TCP enhancement schemes would be attractive if only the endpointsneeded modifications, in practice additional changes are needed. Someapproaches require signaling from lower layers to detect handoffs. Otherapproaches require software to be installed and states to be maintainedat pivot points.

In addition, split TCP schemes need alternative, TCP compatible,protocols to be deployed over wireless links for more efficient errorrecovery.

For the data link layer solutions, instead of modifying TCP, wirelesslosses are hidden from it. In cellular systems this is achieved bynon-transparent mode Radio Link Protocols (RLPs). George Xylomenos,George C. Polyzos, “Link Layer Support for Quality of Service onWireless Internet Links”, Center for Wireless Communications & ComputerSystems Laboratory, UCSD proposed such a data link layer solution, knownas Acknowledged mode RLC for the Wideband Code Division Multiple Accessprotocol, (W-CDMA).

Another solution is to perform local error recovery, a data link layertask, at the IP level, as Snoop TCP, proposed by H. Balakrishnan, V. N.Padmanabhan, S. Seshan, and R. H. Katz, in “A comparison of mechanismsfor improving TCP performance over wireless links,” Proceedings of theACM SIGCOMM '96, August 1996, pp. 256-269.

Snoop tracks TCP data and acknowledgments by maintaining state for eachTCP connection traversing a pivot point. Snoop caches unacknowledged TCPpackets and uses the loss indications conveyed by duplicateacknowledgments, plus local timers, to transparently retransmit lostdata. It hides duplicate acknowledgments indicating wireless losses fromthe TCP sender, thereby preventing redundant TCP recovery. Snoopexploits the information present in TCP packets to avoid data link layercontrol overhead.

Balakrishnan, et. al. report that the Snoop approach outperforms splitTCP schemes, without violating TCP semantics.

A. DeSimone, M. C. Chuah, and O. C. Yue, in “Throughput performance oftransport-layer protocols over wireless LANs,” Proceedings of the IEEEGLOBECOM '93, December 1993, pp. 542-549, report that the Snoop approachalso avoids conflicting local and TCP retransmissions by suppressingduplicate TCP acknowledgments.

There are some problems and difficulties associated with the Snoopapproach. Snoop requires the TCP receiver to be located right after thepivot point.

In the Snoop approach, if a wireless host is sending data to a remotereceiver, TCP acknowledgments are returned too late for efficientrecovery, and they may even signify congestion losses. In thissituation, Explicit Loss Notification (ELN) is needed for TCP todistinguish between congestion and wireless losses. If the Snoop agentdetects a non congestion related loss, it sets an ELN bit in TCP headersand propagates it to the receiver, which echoes it back to the sender.

Snoop can use queue length information to heuristically distinguishcongestion from wireless errors. When receiving an ELN notification, theTCP sender retransmits the lost packet without invoking congestioncontrol. Although ELN is applicable to most topologies, it requireschanges to router algorithms.

Also in the Snoop approach, a lost packet can only be retransmittedafter a round trip time has elapsed, when an acknowledgment with the ELNbit set is returned.

Cellular system Radio Link Protocols (RLPs) avoid the layeringviolations of Snoop, which examines TCP headers at the IP level.However, DeSimone et. el. Report that they may retransmit data inparallel with TCP.

R. Ludwig, B. Rathonyi, A. Konrad, K. Oden, and A. D. Joseph, in“Multi-layer tracing of TCP over a reliable wireless link,” Proceedingsof the ACM SIGMETRICS '99, June 1999, pp. 144-154, report that thisoccurs rarely with fully reliable RLPs. It is prevented by RLPs thatabandon error recovery after some failed attempts.

Link layer schemes operate at the local level with low round trip delaysthat allow fast recovery, in contrast to TCP modifications. Their mainlimitation is that they offer a single level of recovery, which may notbe appropriate for all higher layer protocols and applications.

Michele Zorzi, Michele Rossi, Gianluca Mszzini, in “Throughput andenergy performance of TCP on a Wideband CDMA air interface”,Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Universit' a di Ferrara, Italy, present astudy on the performance of TCP, in terms of both throughput and energyconsumption, in the presence of a Wideband CDMA radio interface.

In Zorzi, et. al., no RLP was considered as it was assumed thatTransparent Mode was used. The results show that the relationshipbetween TCP throughput and average error rate (block error probability)is largely independent of the network load, making it possible tointroduce a universal throughput curve, empirically characterized, whichgives throughput predictions for each value of the user errorprobability.

Another main conclusion of the Zorzi et. al. study is that an optimalvalue of power control threshold exists, potentially leading tosignificant energy savings in return for very small throughputdegradation. The study also indicates that power savings at the higherlevel depend on lower layer tweaks.

TCP/IP support will allow all these wireless systems to interoperate bybecoming parts of the Internet. The next step is to provide directinteroperability between wireless systems by allowing users totransparently move not only between cells within the same system, butalso from one system to another, depending on the services and coverageavailable.

In these unified hierarchical cellular systems, large cells will beoverlaid by multiple smaller cells in areas with increased userconcentrations. Since handoffs momentarily disrupt connectivity withadverse effects on TCP performance, hierarchical cellular systems mustbe carefully designed to avoid increasing the severity of handoffinduced problems.

The small area and high data rates of microcells will lead to morefrequent handoffs and potentially increased losses during each handoff.

Handoffs between different systems may also dramatically change theperformance of underlying wireless links.

To reduce the severity of these problems, one approach is to exploitco-operation between layers so as to enable protocols to adapt theirbehavior as needed. Intensive research is directed towards adaptive datalink layers that provide information to higher layers in an orderlyfashion.

The European Union WINE project is studying protocol adaptivity and linkdependent configuration so as to optimize IP performance over wirelesslinks, without exposing lower layer details to TCP.

A protocol enhancing proxy approach has been developed in the WirelessAdaptation Layer (WAL), to handle automatic adaptivity. The emergingsoftware radios, which allow the configuration of physical and data linklayer parameters in real time, will further enhance link adaptivity,hence protocol adaptivity will become even more important in the future.

There have been successful implementations optimizing specific layersfor such as channel conditions or QoS, but these solutions onlyunderstand limited portions of the overall system. Still otheroptimization approaches have focused on computation energy only, and nota combination of commutation energy and communications energy.

What is needed is a solution that can understand the complexrelationships of the acquisition, transmission, reception, andoutputting of data to optimize on specific constrained resources or anycombination of these constrained resources.

There are significant limitations in prior art devices using only asingle protocol layer for an optimization method. One such limitationhas been the encryption that is often done on the data before the datais made available to OSI Layer 4 and below. TCP packet sizes and windowsizes (OSI Layer 4), IP packet sizes (OSI Layer 3), and Packet DataUnits (OSI Layer 2) are not able to provide optimum transmission valuesbecause the data unit sizes are not adjusted for the transmission path.These layers are not able to probe the data stream since the encryptionmechanism has hidden any attempt at understanding the data contents.

Mechanisms and methods are needed supporting encryption and packetparameterization that take into account the protocol layers from thephysical layer one through transport layer four, such as TCP.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention addresses at least the problems discussed in thebackground. The present invention overcomes some of the significantlimitations of current devices that use only a single protocol layer,optimization method.

The invention includes optimizing a radio link by the following steps:Acquiring at least OSI layer one and two performance measurements.Determining an optimum setting collection, for at least one layerbetween at least OSI layer three and a top layer. Configuring at leastthat one layer based upon the optimum setting collection. The top layeris at least OSI layer four.

A radio link includes at least one of the following: a wireless mobiledevice, a fixed station radio, a fixed radio data relay, a personaldigital assistant with wireless communications capabilities, a wirelessbase station, an end station attached to a wireless network, anintermediate communications processor with wireless communicationcapability, and a boundary device optimizing encapsulation between twomembers of a communication protocol collection.

The present invention is an apparatus supporting the optimized transferof data wirelessly using controlled amounts of radio link and networkresources. The resources being optimized include, but are not limitedto, battery drain, RF bandwidth, bit-rate bandwidth, and latency of thetransmission.

The invention achieves this optimization by using the overall knowledgeof what is being transferred to optimize the protocol layers in thecommunications process. To optimize the resources involved in thetransfer, each protocol layer provides a set of metrics associated withits operation. The metrics are provided as input to a radio linkoptimizer mechanism and the radio link optimizer mechanism then providesa useful set of parameters back to at least one OSI protocol layer threeor above, preferably to each OSI protocol layer.

Various embodiments of the invention do not require any modification tothe existing TCP/IP standard, which is a significant advantage.

These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying thevarious figures of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an overall view of a system incorporating anembodiment of the invention 200 as implemented in a Wireless Mobiledevice 100 wirelessly communicating via fixed station radio and datarelay 110 with at least one server 130 through a Wide Area Network 120;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention 600 in theFixed Station Radio and data relay facility 110;

FIG. 3 illustrates additional details of preferred embodimentsincorporating radio link optimizer 200 in wireless mobile device 100 ofFIG. 1, and radio link optimizer 600 in fixed station radio and datarelay 110 of FIG. 2, involved in data transmission;

FIG. 4 illustrates additional details of preferred embodimentsincorporating radio link optimizer 200 in wireless mobile device 100 ofFIG. 1, and radio link optimizer 600 in fixed station radio and datarelay 110 of FIG. 2, involved in data reception;

FIG. 5 illustrates a Fixed Station Radio and data relay facility 110 ofthe prior art, which does not include an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention 200 or 600 asimplemented in a wireless mobile device 100 of FIG. 1 or fixed antennastation and data relay 110 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 illustrates an apparatus implementing Radio link optimizer 200 ofFIG. 1 and/or 600 of FIG. 2, supporting a method optimizing a radio link100 or 110 from OSI layer one to a top layer;

FIG. 8A illustrates an apparatus implementing the radio link optimizer200 of FIG. 1 and/or 600 of FIG. 2, supporting the method optimizing aradio link 100 or 110 from OSI layer one to the top layer using computer2000 controlled by program system 1000 containing program steps residingin accessibly coupled 2012 memory 2010;

FIG. 8B illustrates one preferred embodiment of the measured parametercollection 700 of FIGS. 7 and 8A;

FIG. 8C illustrates one preferred embodiment of the goal of FIGS. 7 and8A, including at least one member of the channel goal collection 802;

FIG. 9A illustrates one preferred embodiment of the optimum settingcollection 900 of FIGS. 7 and 8A;

FIG. 9B illustrates a detail flowchart of program system 1000 of FIG. 8Aof the method optimizing the radio link supporting wirelesscommunication involving OSI link layers from an OSI layer one to a toplayer;

FIG. 10 illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 2012 of FIGS. 7 and9A further acquiring the measured parameter collection;

FIG. 11 illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 2022 of FIGS. 7 and9A further determining the optimum setting collection by at least onemember of a setting optimizer collection;

FIG. 12 illustrates a detail flowchart of at least one of operations1132, 1142, 1152, and 1162, of FIG. 11 operated by a member of anoptimizer implementation collection;

FIG. 13A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 1012 of FIGS. 7 and9A further acquiring the measured parameter collection, when the radiolink includes at least two of the receiver chains and at least two ofthe transmit chains;

FIG. 13B illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 1032 of FIGS. 7 and9A configuring OSI layer three to top layer, for OSI link layers forwhich optimum setting collection includes member used to configure OSIlink layer;

FIG. 14A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 1482 of FIG. 13Bfurther configuring the OSI link layer based upon the optimum settingcollection members used to configure the OSI link layer as one of theoperations of this flowchart;

FIG. 14B illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 1512 of FIG. 14Afurther communicating the optimum setting collection members used toconfigure the OSI link layer to the means for implementing the OSI linklayer;

FIG. 15A illustrates various radio links 3000, which may be optimized bythe invention;

FIG. 15B illustrates an optimized radio link 3100, made by method 3300to be illustrated in FIG. 16, from a radio link 3000 as illustrated inFIG. 15A;

FIG. 16 illustrates a method 3300 of making of the optimized radio link3100 of FIG. 15B from a radio link 3000 of FIG. 15A;

FIG. 17A illustrates a method 3500 of generating revenue 3510 of FIG.17B based upon optimized radio link 3100 of FIG. 15B;

FIG. 17B illustrates the transactions of FIG. 17A between customer 3502,offer 3504, including price 3506, the means of FIG. 15B, and revenue3508;

FIG. 18A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 3552 of FIGS. 17Aand 17B, further providing the means as at least one of the operationsof this flowchart, which are the members of the means providercollection;

FIG. 18B illustrates the program format collection 3700 including aversion of a computer instruction format 3710, a version of aninterpreted computer instruction format 3720, a version of a higherlevel computer instruction format 3730, and a version of a rule basedinference language 3740;

FIG. 19A further illustrates computer instruction format 3710 of FIG.18B;

FIG. 19B illustrates interpreted computer instruction format 3720 ofFIG. 18B as a member of the collection comprising a version of p-codeinstruction format 3860, a version of a java instruction format 3870,and a version of an Motion Picture Expert Group (MPEG) format 3880;

FIG. 19C illustrates higher level computer instruction format 3730 ofFIG. 18B as a member of the collection comprising a Markup Language3900, and a script language 3910;

FIG. 20A illustrates rule based inference language 3740 of FIG. 18B as amember of a collection including a version of fuzzy logic rule basedlanguage 3920, a version of constraint based rule language 3930, and aversion of PROgramming in LOGic language (Prolog) 3940;

FIG. 20B illustrates script language 3910 of FIG. 19B including aversion of java script 3950, a version of BASIC 3960, and a version ofPERL 3970;

FIG. 21A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 3532 of FIGS. 17Aand 17B further offering to the customer at the price; and

FIG. 21B illustrates service portfolio 3508 including a commitment 3510to provide the means of FIG. 15B to the customer for the radio link.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention includes optimizing a radio link by the following steps:Acquiring at least OSI layer one and two performance measurements.Determining an optimum setting collection, for at least one layerbetween at least OSI layer three and a top layer. Configuring at leastthat one layer based upon the optimum setting collection. The top layeris at least OSI layer four.

A radio link includes at least one of the following: a wireless mobiledevice, a fixed station radio, a fixed radio data relay, a personaldigital assistant with wireless communications capabilities, a wirelessbase station, an end station attached to a wireless network, anintermediate communications processor with wireless communicationcapability, and a boundary device optimizing encapsulation between twomembers of a communication protocol collection.

The present invention is an apparatus supporting the optimized transferof data wirelessly using controlled amounts of radio link and networkresources. The resources being optimized include, but are not limitedto, battery drain, RF bandwidth, bit-rate bandwidth, and latency of thetransmission.

The invention achieves this optimization by using the overall knowledgeof what is being transferred to preferably optimize each of the protocollayers in the communications process.

To optimize the resources involved in the transfer, each protocol layerprovides a set of metrics associated with its operation. The metrics areprovided as input to a radio link optimizer mechanism and the radio linkoptimizer mechanism then provides a useful set of parameters back to atleast one OSI protocol layer three or above, preferably to each OSIprotocol layer.

FIG. 1 illustrates an overall view of a system incorporating anembodiment of the invention 200 as implemented in a Wireless Mobiledevice 100 wirelessly communicating via fixed station radio and datarelay 110 with at least one server 130 through a Wide Area Network 120.

In this exemplary system, mobile device 100 performs at least one usefulfunction such as video teleconferencing anywhere in a geographic areasupported by the wireless network including 110-120-130.

Wireless Mobile device 100 is able to communicate with one or more fixedstation radio and data relay sites 110. Data Traffic from these fixedstations may communicate with each other or may be forwarded into theWide Area Network 120. The Wide Area Network 120 is preferably able todeliver a multi-media data stream involving at least one destinationdata communications or telecommunications end system 130.

Within Wireless Mobile Device 100 are several conventional functionsneeded to implement a multimedia communications service. In terms of thestandard Open System Interconnect (OSI) terminology, Applicationfunction 210 preferably implements OSI Layers 5-7, which controlsacquisition and conversion of video and audio information. Communicationprocessing function 230 implements OSI Layers 2-4 including sessioncontrol, address, and capability exchange functions, assuring reliableend-to-end transport of multimedia data.

Radio function 220 is able to transmit and/or receive data wirelessly.This physical layer transport implements OSI Layer 1, which is capableof implementing at least one of many Wide Area, Metropolitan Area, LocalArea or Personal Area wireless protocols. Although shown communicatingwith a fixed station 110 in FIG. 1, alternate embodiments includeanother mobile device, a group of mobile devices or a mixture of mobileand fixed stations.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the radio linkoptimizer 200, present within the Wireless Mobile device 100, integratesthe application requirements, current wireless system conditions andother relevant input information. The wireless system conditionsinclude, but are not limited to, a knowledge of the physical layernetwork, the end system 130 capabilities, and the current physicalconditions as sensed by Radio function 220. As a result of this multiplelayer input, radio link optimizer 200 then performs one or more methodsto optimize the overall communications.

Optimizing can be done for minimizing battery power requirements, lowestend-to-end system delay, maximum visual clarity, maximum audio quality,minimum RF bandwidth, minimum data bandwidth, lowest error rate or otherdesired results.

In a preferred embodiment, radio link optimizer 200 implements acombination of these goals allowing an intelligent and adaptivelychanging optimization method. Radio link optimizer 200 implements thedesired goal by altering the parameters that feed into each one of thewireless mobile device 100 functions, 200-230.

In addition to controlling local Wireless Mobile device 100 functions,another preferred embodiment of the present invention is able tocommunicate with similar intelligent optimizing functions containedwithin other OSI media and transport layers of each communications linkhandling the end-to-end communications. Using the overall intelligenceand monitor capabilities, similar radio link optimizer functions canprovide an optimized end-to-end optimizing strategy.

The radio link optimizer invention is applicable to other areas of thedata transport network.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention 600 in a fixedstation radio and data relay facility 110.

Fixed station radio 110 is in contact with a wireless mobile device,which may contain an radio link optimizer 200 or may not contain anradio link optimizer. Antenna 640 is connected to the radioreceiver/transmitter 620, and the communications processing 630 providesthe proper messaging allowing the proper operation of the fixed stationradio 110 and the proper messaging to accept and relay data between theWide Area Network 120 and the wireless mobile device.

Radio link optimizer 600 is able to monitor the many different protocolsoperating in environment illustrated in FIG. 2. Radio link optimizer 600embodies a method of optimizing at least OSI layers one to four. Radiolink optimizer 600 preferably performs a similar high level optimizationfound in radio link optimizer 200 but may vary in the specific input,output and methods that are implemented.

In a preferred embodiment, radio link optimizer 600 is aware of thepresence of radio link optimizer 200, and is able to exchange messageswith radio link optimizer 200 to provide additional information aboutthe status and capabilities of the network. In an alternate embodiment,the optimization performed by radio link optimizer 600 includes status,capabilities, and parameters of radio link optimizer 200.

Radio link optimizer 600 is also preferably able to handle manydifferent Wireless Mobile devices simultaneously. In such embodiments,radio link optimizer 600 must be able to process a mixture of WirelessMobile devices with and without internal radio link optimizers.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this novel invention canbe extended to many other parts of a telecommunications and datacommunications network. The apparatus and method can be incorporatedinto end stations, servers, intermediate node communications processors,within public networks, and other communications systems.

FIG. 3 illustrates additional details of preferred embodimentsincorporating radio link optimizer 200 in wireless mobile device 100 ofFIG. 1, and radio link optimizer 600 in fixed station radio and datarelay 110 of FIG. 2, involved in data transmission.

In FIG. 3, external input provides video and/or audio streams to betransmitted. The capabilities of the input data acquisition, session,system resources and the cost of these resources are parameters madeavailable as input to radio link optimizer 200, 600 respectively ofFIGS. 1 and 2, via communications mechanism 310. The nature andmechanism of the input to radio link optimizer 200, 600 may be of manyforms including, but not limited to, memory variables, operating systemmessaging, serial communications links, or parallel bus communications.

In FIGS. 1-3, neither Wireless Mobile device 100 nor fixed antennastation and data relay 110 requires the presence of another radio linkoptimizer in any other part of the communications path.

If other radio link optimizers are present near radio link optimizer200, it is preferably capable of optimizing the communications path withother radio link optimizers. If other radio link optimizers are notpresent, as in FIG. 5, radio link optimizer 200 will be essentiallytransparent to existing communications processing elements anywhere inthe network. Radio link optimizer 200 will perform the optimizationmethod based on the information that is available.

If other radio link optimizers are present near radio link optimizer600, it is preferably capable of optimizing the communications path withother radio link optimizers. If other radio link optimizers are notpresent, radio link optimizer 600 will be essentially transparent toexisting communications processing elements anywhere in the network.Radio link optimizer 600 will perform the optimization method based onthe information that is available.

FIG. 4 illustrates additional details of preferred embodimentsincorporating radio link optimizer 200 in wireless mobile device 100 ofFIG. 1, and radio link optimizer 600 in fixed station radio and datarelay 110 of FIG. 2, involved in data reception.

Processing blocks 570, 560, 550, and 540 implement receive function andprocessing steps. Using the receiver and transmitter capabilities,illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, support wireless mobile device 100implements bi-directional data communication. Similarly, the receiverand transmitter capabilities, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, supportfixed station radio 110 implementing bi-directional data communication.In both of these preferred embodiments, wireless communication is fullduplex, with the radio link optimizer 200 also able to supporthalf-duplex or simplex sessions as required.

In a manner analogous to the transmit function illustrated in FIG. 3,the processing blocks 570, 560, 550, and 540 of FIG. 4 provide inputcapabilities, status, and parameters to radio link optimizer 200, 600,respectively of FIGS. 1 and 2. Radio link optimizer 200, respectively600, then provides parameters back to these processing blocks viacommunications mechanisms 480, 470, 460 and 450.

Radio link optimizer 200, respectively 600, is able to optimize bothreceive and transmit output parameters using the capabilities, status,and input parameters of both receive and transmit functions in thepreferred embodiment.

In alternate embodiments, the receiver and transmitter radio linkoptimizers operate independently or with limited cross-functionalcapabilities.

FIG. 5 illustrates a Fixed Station Radio and data relay facility 110 ofthe prior art, which does not include an embodiment of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention provide mechanisms and methods needed forsupporting encryption and packet parameterization, that take intoaccount the protocol layers from the physical layer one throughtransport layer four, such as TCP.

The overall throughput of a TCP/IP based wireless packet data link isdetermined by, among other things, the length of the packet. One methodof this invention at least controls the size of packets. The systemrelies on the radio link optimizer apparatus that receives a metricassociated with the quality of the radio link and adjusts the packetsize to optimally fit the channel conditions.

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention 200 or 600 asimplemented in a wireless mobile device 100 of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 or fixedantenna station and data relay 110 of FIG. 2-4.

Signal processors 572 and 574 indicate signal processing algorithms inthe receive chain of the physical layer, demodulator 570 of FIG. 4.Signal processors 532 and 534 indicate signal processing algorithms inthe transmit chain of the physical layer, modulator 530 of FIG. 3.

Note that in fixed antenna stations 110, as illustrated in FIG. 2, thereare typically multiple instances of demodulators 570 and/or modulators530.

It should be further noted that different implementations provide thesesignal processing activities in a variety of hardware implementationsincluding at least one of, but not limited to, Field Programmable GateArrays (FPGAs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), computers, and customlogic networks.

Radio Link Process 520, 560, respectively of FIGS. 3 and 4, controls theLayer 2 protocol of the system. In the case of Wideband Code DivisionMultiple Access (WCDMA), this includes management of Radio Link Control(RLC) and Medium Access Control (MAC).

This Layer 2 protocol may be able to ask for retransmissions etc. tomake the overall link reliable as seen by the TCP/IP process 510, 550,respectively of FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the following, the same principles that are discussed for the TCP/IPalgorithm can be applied to Layer 2. This may require modifications toLayer 2. Radio Link Optimizer 520, 560 performs the method used toadaptively and pro-actively adjust various TCP/IP parameters.

Under normal operating conditions, Wireless Mobile device 100 and/orfixed station radio 110 will transmit and receive data using acommunication protocol compatible with TCP/IP. One purpose of certainpreferred embodiments of this invention is to make this data exchange asefficient as possible. Increasing efficiency refers to reducing thenumber of times that packets need to be retransmitted by either theWireless Mobile device 100 and/or the fixed station radio 110.

In FIG. 6, specific examples of signal processing blocks in thetransmitter and receiver that will be referenced later, are a circuit tomeasure the transmitted signal power and the Turbo decoder in thereceiver.

Consider first the case where Wireless Mobile device 100 or fixedstation radio 110, of FIG. 6, is acting as a receiver of TCP/IP packets.Each TCP/IP packet carries a header that reduces the communicationefficiency of the link. The smaller packets are, the greater the ratioof packet headers to overall data and the less efficiently the link isused. Thus, the optimum scenario will see TCP/IP packets that are aslarge as possible. However, if the link quality is low, the chance ofreceiving a large packet error-free is reduced.

To improve performance, the receiver may employ signal processingalgorithms, such as Turbo decoding. However, these algorithms can onlyincrease the Bit Error Rate (BER) performance of the link by a certainamount. Thus, if link quality deteriorates, a point will be reachedwhere many packets are lost and the signal processing algorithms (e.g.Turbo decoding, channel equalization etc.) cannot recover thetransmitted signal. When this point is reached, the link will sufferfrom an increase in packet retransmissions.

The invention includes a more optimal solution, which will pro-activelyreduce the packet size as the link quality deteriorates. This can beaccomplished by the radio link optimizer 200 and/or 600 performing thefollowing steps. Reading 536, 538, 576, and 578 link quality parametersrespectively from signal processing elements 532, 534, 572, and 574, inthe physical layer. And respectively instructing 420, 460 the TCP/IPstack 510, 550 to reduce its advertised window size. This will force thetransmitter to reduce the packet size it transmits to Wireless Mobiledevice 100 and/or fixed station radio 110.

This system does not require any modification to the existing TCP/IPstandard, which is a significant advantage.

A more detailed example of how this preferred method can operate isdescribed next. Turbo decoders increase the number of decodingiterations as the link quality degrades. For a good link, only 2-3iterations may be required whereas a bad link may require 6-8iterations. If the radio link optimizer 200, 600 sees that the number ofiterations is increasing and is approaching the maximum number ofpermitted iterations, it instructs 420, 460 the TCP/IP stack 510, 550 toreduce the advertised window size. This results in a reduction in packetsize and consequently, less data will need to be retransmitted when ablock error occurs.

When Wireless Mobile device 100 and/or fixed station radio 110 of FIG.6, is acting as a transmitter, the radio link optimizer 200 or 600, canpreferably monitor the current transmit power level. When the networkinstructs Wireless Mobile device 100 to increase its transmit powerlevel, and the actual transmitted power level gets close to the maximumtransmit power level. The radio link optimizer should reconfigure theWireless Mobile device 100 to reduce the size of packets transmitted asthe system is reaching the point at which the BER on the channel cannotbe decreased by increasing the transmitted power.

FIG. 7 illustrates an apparatus implementing Radio link optimizer 200 ofFIG. 1 and/or 600 of FIG. 2, supporting a method optimizing a radio link100 or 110 from at least OSI layer three to a top layer.

FIG. 8A illustrates an apparatus implementing the radio link optimizer200 of FIG. 1 and/or 600 of FIG. 2, supporting the method optimizing aradio link 100 or 110 from OSI layer one to the top layer using computer2000 controlled by program system 1000 containing program steps residingin accessibly coupled 2012 memory 2010.

FIG. 8B illustrates one preferred embodiment of the measured parametercollection 700 of FIGS. 7 and 8A.

In FIG. 8B, the measured parameter collection includes number of decoderiterations 702 for at least one of said receiver chains, transmit powerlevel 704 for at least one of said transmit chains, handoff status 706,and an another RLO measured parameter 708.

Another RLO measured parameter is communicated from another Radio LinkOptimizer, and includes at least one of that radio link's measuredparameters, goals, and optimum settings as illustrated in FIGS. 8B, 8C,and 9A, respectively.

FIG. 8C illustrates one preferred embodiment of the goal 800 of FIGS. 7and 8A, including at least one member of the channel goal collection802.

In FIG. 8C, the channel goal collection 802 preferably includesthroughput goal 804, latency goal 806, end-to-end system delay goal 808,transmit power limit 810, timeout limit 812, visual clarity goal 814,stored power duration 816, minimized RF bandwidth goal 818, minimizeddata bandwidth goal 820, minimized error rate goal 822, monetary costfor communication goal 824, audio quality goal 826, and processing powergoal 828.

Note that the monetary cost for communication goal 824 may include, butis not limited to, a monetary cost for peak bandwidth communicationgoal.

FIG. 9A illustrates one preferred embodiment of the optimum settingcollection 900 of FIGS. 7 and 8A.

In FIG. 9A, the optimum setting collection includes advertised windowsize 902, transmit window size 904, retransmission timer size 906, databit rate 908, camera resolution 910, display resolution 912, displayrefresh rate 914, audio power 916, geographic positioning 918, videocompression 920, IP packet size 922, and packet data unit 924.

In the following figures will be found flowcharts of at least one methodof the invention possessing arrows with reference numbers. These arrowswill signify flow of control, and sometimes data, supportingimplementations, including at least one program step or program threadexecuting upon a computer, inferential links in an inferential engine,state transitions in a finite state machine, and dominant learnedresponses within a neural network.

The operation of starting a flowchart refers to at least one of thefollowing. Entering a subroutine in a macro instruction sequence in acomputer. Entering into a deeper node of an inferential graph. Directinga state transition in a finite state machine, possibly while pushing areturn state. And triggering a collection of neurons in a neuralnetwork.

The operation of termination in a flowchart refers to at least one ormore of the following. The completion of those operations, which mayresult in a subroutine return, traversal of a higher node in aninferential graph, popping of a previously stored state in a finitestate machine, return to dormancy of the firing neurons of the neuralnetwork.

A computer as used herein will include, but is not limited to aninstruction processor. The instruction processor includes at least oneinstruction processing element and at least one data processing element,each data processing element controlled by at least one instructionprocessing element.

FIG. 9B illustrates a detail flowchart of program system 1000 of FIG. 8Aof the method optimizing the radio link supporting wirelesscommunication involving OSI link layers from an OSI layer one to a toplayer.

In FIGS. 7 and 9B, respectively means, operation 1012 perform acquiringa measured parameter collection. The measured parameter collectionincludes at least one measured parameter for at least one member of aradio chain collection involving at least one member of a layer one-twocollection including at least the OSI layer one and an OSI layer two.

In FIGS. 7 and 9B, respectively means, operation 1022 performsdetermining an optimum setting collection for an OSI layer three to thetop layer based upon the measured parameter collection and based upon agoal.

In FIGS. 7 and 9B, respectively means, operation 1032 performsconfiguring the OSI layer three to the top layer based upon the optimumsetting collection to support the goal.

In certain preferred embodiments the top layer is at least an OSI layerfive and at most an OSI layer seven. In certain further preferredembodiments, the top layer is essentially the OSI layer seven.

When the top layer is the OSI layer seven, FIGS. 7 and 9B furtherinclude respectively means, operation 1042, which performs operating theOSI layer seven to, at least partially, create the goal.

FIG. 10 illustrates a detail of means, operation 2012 of FIGS. 7 and 9Afurther acquiring the measured parameter collection.

Means, operation 1132 performs accessing a memory variable representinga member of the measured parameter collection.

Means, operation 1142 performs receiving an operating system message atleast partially indicating at least one member of the measured parametercollection.

Means, operation 1152 performs receiving a serialized communication viaa serial communication link indicating at least one member of themeasured parameter collection.

Means, operation 1152 performs receiving a parallelized communicationvia a parallel bus at least partially indicating at least one member ofthe measured parameter collection.

FIG. 11 illustrates a detail of means, operation 2022 of FIGS. 7 and 9Afurther determining the optimum setting collection by at least onemember of a setting optimizer collection.

The setting optimizer collection includes operations 1232, 1242, 1252and 1262 of FIG. 11.

Means, operation 1232 performs stimulating a neural network with themeasured parameter collection based upon the goal, to at least partiallycreate the optimum setting collection.

Means, operation 1242 performs providing an inferential engine themeasured parameter collection based upon the goal, to at least partiallyinfer the optimum setting collection.

Means, operation 1252 performs using a fuzzy logic rule base applied tothe measured parameter collection directed by the goal, to at leastpartially infer the optimum setting collection.

Means, operation 1262 performs executing an optimization program, giventhe measured parameter collection with the goal, to at least partiallycreate the optimum setting collection.

FIG. 12 illustrates a detail of at least one of operations 1232, 1242,1252, and 1262, of FIG. 11 operated by a member of an optimizerimplementation collection.

The optimizer implementation collection includes operations 1312, 1322,1332, 1342, and 1352.

Means, operation 1312 performs the setting optimizer collection member,which includes operating a program system comprising at least oneprogram step residing in a memory accessibly coupled to and controllinga computer to at least partially create the optimum setting collection.

Means, operation 1322 performs the setting optimizer collection member,which includes operating a finite state machine to at least partlycreate the optimum setting collection.

Means, operation 1332 performs the setting optimizer collection member,which includes using at least one Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)to create at least partially the optimum setting collection.

Means, operation 1342 performs the setting optimizer collection member,which includes means for using a neural network emulator to create atleast partially the optimum setting collection.

Means, operation 1352 performs the setting optimizer collection member,which includes means for using an inferential engine to create at leastpartially the optimum setting collection.

In certain situations, the radio link includes at least two of thereceiver chains and at least two of the transmit chains.

FIG. 13A illustrates a detail of means, operation 1012 of FIGS. 7 and 9Afurther acquiring the measured parameter collection, when the radio linkincludes at least two of the receiver chains and at least two of thetransmit chains.

Means, operation 1452 performs for at least two of the receiver chains,and at least one of the transmitter chains, acquiring the measuredparameter collection in the receiver chains and in the transmit chain,collectively involving the OSI layer one and the OSI layer two.

Means, operation 1462 performs for at least one of the receiver chains,and at least two of the transmitter chains, acquiring the measuredparameter collection in the receiver chain and in the transmit chains,collectively involving the OSI layer one and the OSI layer two.

Means, operation 1472 performs for at least two of the receiver chains,and at least two of the transmitter chains, acquiring the measuredparameter collection in the receiver chains and in the transmit chains,collectively involving the OSI layer one and the OSI layer two.

Consider when, for at least one of the OSI link layers from at least theOSI layer three to the top layer, the optimum setting collectionincludes at least one member used to configure the OSI link layer.

FIG. 13B illustrates a detail of means, operation 1032 of FIGS. 7 and 9Aconfiguring at least OSI layer three to top layer, for OSI link layersfor which optimum setting collection includes the at least one memberused to configure OSI link layer.

Means, operation 1482 performs configuring the OSI link layer based uponthe optimum setting collection members used to configure the OSI linklayer.

FIG. 14A illustrates a detail of means, operation 1482 of FIG. 13Bfurther configuring the OSI link layer based upon the optimum settingcollection members used to configure the OSI link layer as one of theoperations of this flowchart.

Means, operation 1512 communicates the optimum setting collectionmembers to a means for implementing the OSI link layer.

Means, operation 1522 asserts the optimum setting collection membersupon a means for implementing the OSI link layer.

Means, operation 1532 requests the optimum setting collection membersfrom the means for implementing the OSI link layer.

FIG. 14B illustrates a detail of means, operation 1512 of FIG. 14Afurther communicating the optimum setting collection members used toconfigure the OSI link layer to the means for implementing the OSI linklayer.

Means, operation 1552 signals the means for implementing the OSI linklayer of an available configuration parameter member.

Means, operation 1562 sends the optimum setting collection members asrequested by the means for implementing the OSI link layer.

FIG. 15A illustrates various radio links 3000, which may be optimized bythe invention.

In FIG. 15A, a radio link refers to the following. A wireless mobiledevice 100 as illustrated in FIG. 1. A fixed station radio 110 and/or afixed radio data relay 110 as illustrated in FIG. 2. A personal digitalassistant 3002 with wireless communications capabilities. A wirelessbase station 3004. An end station attached to a wireless network 3006.An intermediate communications processor with a wireless communicationcapability 3008. And a boundary device optimizing encapsulation betweentwo members of a communication protocol collection 3010.

Note that at least one member of the communication protocol collectionpreferably supports a wireless physical transport at the OSI layer one.

Note that in many situations it is preferable that for each of the OSIlink layers from the OSI layer three to the top layer, the optimumsetting collection includes at least one member used to configure theOSI link layer.

FIG. 15B illustrates an optimized radio link 3100, made by method 3300to be illustrated in FIG. 16, from a radio link 3000 as illustrated inFIG. 15A.

In FIGS. 7 and 15B, 1012 illustrates a means for acquiring a measuredparameter collection including at least one measured parameter for atleast one member of a radio chain collection involving at least onemember of a layer one-two collection including the OSI layer one and anOSI layer two.

In FIGS. 7 and 15B, 1022 illustrates a means for determining an optimumsetting collection for an OSI layer three to the top layer based uponthe measured parameter collection and based upon a goal.

In FIGS. 7 and 15B, 1032 illustrates a means for configuring the OSIlayer three to the top layer based upon the optimum setting collectionto support the goal. FIG. 7 illustrates a means for configuring the OSIlayer three to top layer.

In certain preferred embodiments the top layer is at least an OSI layerfive and at most an OSI layer seven. In certain further preferredembodiments, the top layer is essentially the OSI layer seven.

When the top layer is the OSI layer seven, in FIGS. 7 and 15B, 1012illustrates a means for operating the OSI layer seven at least partiallycreating the goal.

FIG. 16 illustrates a method 3300 of making the optimized radio link3100 of FIG. 15B from a radio link 3000 of FIG. 15A.

Operation 3332 provides a means for acquiring the measured parametercollection.

Operation 3342 provides a means for determining the optimum settingcollection.

Operation 3352 provides a means for configuring at least the OSI layerthree to the top layer.

When the radio link 3000 includes a top layer of essentially the OSIlayer seven, operation 3362 provides a means for operating the OSI layerseven to, at least partially, create the goal.

The optimized radio link is a product of the process outlined in FIG.16.

FIG. 17A illustrates a method 3500 of generating revenue 3510 of FIG.17B based upon optimized radio link 3100 of FIG. 15B.

FIG. 17B illustrates the transactions of FIG. 17A between customer 3502,offer 3504, including price 3506, the means of FIG. 15B, and revenue3508.

In FIGS. 17A and 17B, operation 3532 performs offering the optimizedradio link 3100 of FIG. 15B at a price 3506 of FIG. 17B to customer 3502to create an offer 3504 at the price 3506.

In FIGS. 17A and 17B, operation 3542 performs the customer 3502accepting the offer 3504 at the price 3506.

In FIGS. 17A and 17B, operation 3552 provides the means of FIG. 15B tothe customer 3502 for the radio link 3000 of FIG. 15A.

In FIGS. 17A and 17B, operation 3562 performs the customer 3502 payingthe price 3506 to generate the revenue 3508.

Note that revenue 3508, is a product of the process of FIGS. 17A and17B, based upon making the optimized radio link 3100 of FIG. 15A.Revenue 3508 is a product of at least one of the invention's methods.

Providing the means of FIG. 15B may include, but is not limited to, anythe following: access to a download site for the means, a public key todecode the means, a memory device containing the means, and aninitialization process for installing the means.

FIG. 18A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 3552 of FIGS. 17Aand 17B, further providing the means as at least one of the operationsof this flowchart, which are the members of the means providercollection.

Operation 3612 provides an attachable device 200 and/or 600 of FIGS. 1and 2, coupled to radio link 3000 of FIG. 15A, optimizing radio link3000.

Operation 3622 provides a program system 1000 to radio link 3000 of FIG.15A, derived from a computer language implementation of methodoptimizing radio link illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 16, excepting FIG. 5.

The program steps of program system 1000 of FIG. 8A are implemented in aversion of at least one member of a program format collection 3700illustrated in FIG. 18B.

FIG. 18B illustrates the program format collection 3700 including acomputer instruction format 3710, an interpreted computer instructionformat 3720, a higher level computer instruction format 3730, and a rulebased inference language 3740.

FIG. 19A further illustrates computer instruction format 3710 of FIG.18B.

A computer instruction format 3710 includes a Single Instruction SingleDatapath (SISD) format 3810, a Single Instruction Multiple Datapath(SIMD) format 3820, a Multiple Instruction Single Datapath (MISD) format3830, a Multiple Instruction Multiple Datapath (MIMD) format 3840, and aVery Long Instruction Word (VLIW) format 3850.

FIG. 19B illustrates interpreted computer instruction format 3720 ofFIG. 18B as a member of the collection comprising a p-code instructionformat 3860, a java instruction format 3870, and a Motion Picture ExpertGroup (MPEG) format 3880.

FIG. 19C illustrates higher level computer instruction format 3730 ofFIG. 18B as a member of the collection comprising a Markup Language3900, and a script language 3910.

Note that a Markup Language 3900 includes at least a Hyper Text MarkupLanguage (HTML) 3902.

FIG. 20A illustrates rule based inference language 3740 of FIG. 18B as amember of a collection including a fuzzy logic rule based language 3920,a constraint based rule language 3930, and a PROgramming in LOGiclanguage (Prolog) 3940.

FIG. 20B illustrates script language 3910 of FIG. 19B including javascript 3950, BASIC 3960, and PERL 3970.

FIG. 21A illustrates a detail flowchart of operation 3532 of FIGS. 17Aand 17B further offering to the customer at the price.

Operation 3652 performs offering a subscription to the customer 3502 fora service portfolio 3508 at the price 3506 to create the offer 3504 atthe price 3506.

FIG. 21B illustrates service portfolio 3508 including a commitment 3510to provide the means of FIG. 15B to the customer for the radio link.Note that the commitment to provide the means of FIG. 15B may include,but is not limited to, any the following: access to a download site forthe means, a public key to decode the means, a memory device containingthe means, and an initialization process for installing the means.

Consider the following example of the operation of an embodiment of theinvention where the top layer is OSI layer seven. When the user of theWireless Mobile device 100 of FIG. 1 wishes to communicate, optimizedradio link 3100 determines the capabilities of the wireless networkpresent in the current geographical proximity. This may be a high speedLocal Area Network (LAN) that has been authorized to carry this usersdata, a lower speed/higher cost Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) orperhaps a Wide Area Network (WAN) such as a satellite.

Upon the selection of this RF Physical Layer link (Layer 1), messagesare exchanged with intermediate nodes and the destination. Thecapabilities of the entire path and alternate paths are made availableto the radio link optimizer 200. The invention's method 1042 selects thegoal(s) 800 that provide the solution the user desires. These goals 800may include, but are not limited to: quality of the video signal 814,monetary cost of the path 824, audio quality 826, minimization of localbattery power 816, processing power 828, or end user capabilities. Theoptimization method 1000 also embodies an optimization based on any andall combinations of the options.

Should the user select the highest video quality and the RF physicalLayer 1 allows a LAN connection, the result of the radio link optimizermethod would be a sequence such as the following:

-   1. Establish a high bit rate video compression algorithm through    Layers 5-7 (500).-   2. Exchange messages at these layers with the destination indicating    the connection requirements.-   3. Optimize Layer 3 for LAN communications (510).-   4. Provide security and authorization at Layer 2 with the LAN fixed    station communications entities (520).-   5. Negotiate frequency, data bandwidth reservation, and other    physical parameters (530).-   6. Establish receive requirements based on the amount of bandwidth    able to be carried from the destination to the optimized radio link    3100.-   7. Establish security and authorization for the receive path at    Layer 2 with the LAN fixed station (560).-   8. Optimize Layer 3 for receiving LAN communications (550).-   9. Provide the proper parameters to the decompression and display    device (540) for the receiving path.

In this preferred embodiment, the radio link optimizer method andapparatus has thorough information needed to optimize all parameters atall protocol layers.

The preceding embodiments have been provided by way of example and arenot meant to constrain the scope of the following claims.

1. An apparatus optimizing a radio link supporting wirelesscommunication involving OSI link layers from an OSI layer one to a toplayer, comprising: means for acquiring a measured parameter collectionincluding at least one measured parameter for at least one member of aradio chain collection involving at least one member of a layer one-twocollection including at least said OSI layer one and an OSI layer two;means for determining an optimum setting collection for at least an OSIlayer three to said top layer based upon said measured parametercollection and based upon a goal; and means for configuring at leastsaid OSI layer three to said top layer based upon said optimum settingcollection to support said goal; wherein said radio chain collection iscomprised of: each receiver chain included in said radio link, and eachtransmit chain included in said radio link; wherein said top layer is atleast an OSI layer four; and wherein for at least one of said OSI linklayer from said OSI layer three to said top layer, said optimum settingcollection includes at least one member associated with said OSI linklayer; wherein said radio link includes said at least one receiver chainand said at least one transmit chain. 2-53. (canceled)